I used to be able to type a filename in the Cortana/Search box in the bottom toolbar and would be given the option to open the file location or the file. following a recent update this no longer works - it only displays Internet explorer suggestions. Any ideas anyone how this can be fixed?
Welcome to tenforums.
With users updating currently to build 1809, and others, like me, still on 1709, unfortunately I can't guess what you 'recent update' was.. could you have a look at your Update History and advise that please?
What is your Windows build?
Windows key + R, winver.
Please post a screenshot of what you are seeing. You may need to use the equivalent of PrtSc or a capture tool that supports it.
Note that MS was playing around with the format of Cortana for a while- some were seeing a different format with larger buttons showing the search filter options, so it would be useful to see what you have. Are you a Windows Insider?
A useful tutorial:
Reinstall and Re-register Cortana in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials
Thanks for your reply. Here is the requested info:
Windows 10 Home
Ver.: 10.0.17134 Build: 17134
Last Feature Update:
Feature update to Windows 10, version 1803 installed on 5th May 2018 ( the fault occurred later than this.
Quality updates:
September 11, 2018—KB4457128 (OS Build 17134.285)
September 17, 2018 KB4100347: Intel microcode updates
I'm pretty sure the fault occurred during September.
I created a text file called x.txt and then searched for it. A screen shot is attached showing the result. Previously I would see the actual file and had the option to open the location if I wanted to rather than the file.
Hope this is helpful.
Last edited by cws666; 06 Oct 2018 at 10:42. Reason: Replace attachment
Hi could you try the search using the search field in file explorer, making sure x.txt is in a location that should be indexed by Windows search?
Hi, the option in file explorer does work but takes forever. The bottom toolbar was instant.
making sure x.txt is in a location that should be indexed by Windows search?
First thing is to make sure Windows search indexing is working.
Check the location of x.txt should be indexed in Control Panel, Indexing Options. If it is in such a folder, then you have a problem with search indexing.
If it isn't, then put it where it should be indexed, monitoring the count of items indexed in Indexing Options. thus, which should then increment.
Cortana file search only finds things that are indexed, and offers a search by file explorer for the rest.
If the count increments, then try Cortana search again.
If not, try the Windows search troubleshooter.
Thanks for your help. C: for some reason was not included in the index list. After adding
it and running indexing (it took at least 4 hours and was still running when I went to bed!) Search is now running correctly and I now know what to do if this happens again.
Thanks again for your help.
N.B. Indexing C: isn't really a good idea - you'll incur significant overheads both in the size of your index file and the extra disk activity updating the index on every update, logging, installation.... everything.
If your file was in one of your library folders and not being indexed, then you may need to reset your default index locations. There's a tutorial- it's option 3.
Otherwise, restrict what you index on C:
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